all 62 comments

[–]AdrianBrony 278 points279 points ago

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If I were sent back in time, I'd bet I could convince some middle ages king that I was a powerful sorcerer with something like this.

[–]InvalidWhistle 180 points181 points ago

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You'd more than likely get burned at the stake or beheaded for such sorcery, before you even got to the king.

Start off small, like the penny behind the ear trick/

[–]AdrianBrony 124 points125 points ago

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Maybe in europe. but in asia or the middle east, I could play myself off as a chemist (which would be true) and gain renown if I can explain what happens.

you know, because asia and the islamic world wasn't full of derp like europe kind of was at the time.

[–]InvalidWhistle 34 points35 points ago

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touche' I guess I was picturing a more European beginning to your travels. Probably starting off in the east Indies or Asia as a powerful sorcerer would get world to some wealthy king that would send for you and pay a fortune for your magic to aid his conquests.

Only to his dismay you use that invitation as a way to enter into the wealthiest most powerful kingdom of that time. Using your upper class status and mystical sorcery you burn the kings castle to the ground. Leading way for a fighting army of thousands of Asians who begin a thousand year war fighting for the land of Europe and all it's kingdoms. Forever changing the history of everything.

[–]jackskidney 26 points27 points ago

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Except for Hitler. Hitler still happens.

[–]Persica 0 points1 point ago

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Instead, now islam made the middle east 100% derp

[–]cake-please 0 points1 point ago

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That is definitely a pro tip

[–]triscut900 7 points8 points ago

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Chemistpony? :D

[–]philosomorodon 0 points1 point ago

Is it weird that I thought the exact same thing?

[–]I_Bad_Translator_you -1 points0 points ago

"But he turned, and saw the birth of a powerful Wizard"

[–]AdrianBrony -1 points0 points ago

that... actually sounds kinda cool.

[–]n0c0ntr0l 62 points63 points ago

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What is this?

[–]fauno15 115 points116 points ago

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This particular reaction is caused by heating up mercury (II) thiocyanate. It used to be fairly popular in science demonstrations, but it's not used much anymore because it's REALLY toxic. A similar effect is used in "black snake" novelty fireworks that you would buy around the 4th of July (in America).

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]fauno15 19 points20 points ago

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You can make a similar reaction using baking soda and powdered sugar, but it can be difficult. I once tried it and added some Ammonium Nitrate that I got from an instant cold pack (make sure not to get one with urea as it will not work) and it worked, but it was hard to ignite. If you do get it to work, it will be black, not the same colors as the GIF. If you decide to throw caution and cancer to the wind and want to try this particular experiment (I don't know where you would get the mercury (II) thiocyanate, but the Internet is a magical place), then either do it in a fume hood or outside in a VERY well ventilated area and have everyone stand far away and upwind. I don't know the precise byproducts of the reaction, but mercury compounds are almost all very toxic and this experiment spreads them far and wide.

[–]db0255 2 points3 points ago

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Not to mention thiocyanate could have all types of nasty, lethal byproducts.

[–]TheAngryGoat 13 points14 points ago

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Jack's magic beans.

[–]IMasturbateToMyself 5 points6 points ago

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That's what my diarrhea looks like after eating fast food.

[–]AlmostNPC 3 points4 points ago

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Taco Bell anyone?

[–]pissuoff 8 points9 points ago

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Science, nigga.

[–]SuperMcRad 112 points113 points ago

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We've already encountered the inevitable brick wall with this subreddit. No one knows what the fuck they are posting.

[–]danguro 14 points15 points ago

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That's what makes it so great. It reminds me of a sulfur-organic compound reaction though

[–]sir_miser 19 points20 points ago

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Imagine setting fire to a chunk the size of a car.

[–]ecmmyers 33 points34 points ago

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I propose this subreddit needs more chemists.

[–]db0255 10 points11 points ago

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Sup!

[–]lolitsaj 12 points13 points ago

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It's usually sold in the firework industry as Pharaoh's Serpent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaoh%27s_serpent

[–]Kiwispam84 1 point2 points ago

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That article is pretty unclear, but it seems like the reaction can come from baking soda and sugar, plus fire...

[–]JmjFu 22 points23 points ago

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CTHULU LIVES

[–]mikemol 5 points6 points ago

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I passed the link on to some friends. One informed me they'd lost some sanity points, but he was OK because he didn't realize what was going on.

[–]OtherSideReflections 6 points7 points ago

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[–]classicrockielzpfvh 9 points10 points ago

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So this is where tentacle porn comes from right?

[–]carpwrist 4 points5 points ago

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This awesome and apparently not the most complicated compound to make. Recipe and demonstration video.

[–]CyberSoldier8 5 points6 points ago

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What am I looking at here?

[–]lazydictionary 4 points5 points ago

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That was really cool. I'm subbing here.

[–]pacfan40 3 points4 points ago

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Thank you for the nightmares.

[–]NEVRENOUGHBACON 3 points4 points ago

First thing I would do is place it in the middle of the road on the day of 'the end of the world' and watch people freak the fuck out while there's this giant yellow arm thing crawling out of the street.

[–]lukjad007 0 points1 point ago

Did you do it on December 21st? That would have been perfect!

[–]ojolejano 4 points5 points ago

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Okay, explanation needed guys, wtf is that?

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

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mercury (II) thiocyanate burning

[–]pissuoff 1 point2 points ago

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Science!!!!! Science to the faaaaace!

[–]CourtesyPunch 1 point2 points ago

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Google calls it pharaoh's serpent.

[–]la_falaise 1 point2 points ago

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...does anyone else feel uncomfortable?

[–]Liamwitz 1 point2 points ago

F'htagn!

[–]Jaccole24 2 points3 points ago

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What is this?

[–]ft975 0 points1 point ago

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[–]smash790 0 points1 point ago

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It's like that South park episode.

[–]sirius_star 0 points1 point ago

"Da fuq" should be an appropriate response as well.

[–]judytheman27 1 point2 points ago

this is mildly terrifying